FRANK L. FOUCE

Frank Louis Fouce (1927 – 2013) was a film producer and patron of Spanish-language entertainment. He was the son of theater and vaudeville impresario Frank Fouce, Sr. Fouce played a major role in promoting Spanish-language entertainment throughout his career. He cofounded the Spanish International Communications Corp., which operated the first Spanish-language television channels and went on to help launch the network that would become Univision.

In the 1950s his father leased the Million Dollar Theatre to show Spanish films, but he passed away in 1962, leaving Fouce Jr. to take over Fouce Amusement Enterprises. In 1969, Fouce bought the Million Dollar Theatre. He began bringing in famous Mexican entertainers to perform at the theater, attracting the Spanish speaking audience that Hollywood and other mainstream media had largely ignored. In doing so, he established the Million Dollar as a hub for Latino and Hispanic culture and entertainment. Numerous Mexican motion pictures premiered at the theater, and regular live performances by Hispanic singers and dancers were held.

After an impressive career as an entrepreneur and producer, the theater impresario passed away in 2013 from lymphoma at the age of 85.